Inflation device



Dec. 30, 1930. w. E. HUFFMAN 1,737,153

INFLATION DEVICE Filed Oct. 29. 1929 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 sr'res UNITE;

WILLIAM E. HUFFMAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO INFLATION DEVICE Application filed October 29, 1929. Serial No. 403,270.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT F MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in air pumps and more particularly to an inflation device of a character which is capable of delivering large quantities of air at a low pressure for the purpose )0 of inflating air mattresses, pneumatic boats and the like.

Heretofore it has been necessary in accomplishing the inflation of these objects to depend upon the use of bellows, an bottles,

5 and pumps of low volume capacity, and, in some instances, lung power was necessary.

Needless to say that any of the above mentioned devices and methods of inflation are slow in process, cumbersome to handle under a; various conditions, and require a great amount of manual labor and exertion to accomplish the desired end.

One of the main objects, therefore, of this invention is the provision of an inflation de vice which will quickly and easily inflate any one of the above mentioned articles with as little manual labor as possible.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inflation device which is composed of but a minimum of parts and one which can be easily collapsed and folded into a small and substantially fiat mass whereby to permit of its being easily stored away in a small space.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device such as described, made entirely of fabric material so that it is refillable in its nature, of light weight, and having a tubular shape to permit of its being easily handled.

An inflation device such as described is very readily adaptable to its being used in connection with aircraft of various natures such as airplanes, seaplanes, or dirigibles in which provisions are made for carrying pneumatic boats to be used in the case of an emergency landing in water, and wherein the necessity arises of inflating the boats as qulcklyas possible for the purpose of life saving.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the detailed description which follows or will be apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention is illustrated, but it will be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had within the scopeofthe claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of the in flation device in an embodiment of my invention. V

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a view showing the inflation device partially collapsed after inflation.

Referring to the drawing in which corresponding numerals designate like parts throughout various views thereof, the inflation device is shown as comprising generally a tubular-shaped container of fabric material which is substantially of water proofed and air proofed cloth. The container comprises substantially a collapsible sleeve having an end piece 11 sewed or otherwise secured in the one end of the sleeve as indicated by numeral 12. The sleeve may be of sufficient length to give any desired-volume of air. Any number of outlets 13 may be provided in'the closed end ofthe sleeve, in the present case a plurality of tubular members 14 being provided. 1 These tubes are in turn suitably provided with valve mechanisms, such as valve clamps 15, of a design used on small rubber tubes in chemical practice. Any type of clamp may be used sufficient to effect a closing of the end of the sleeve until such time as it may be desired to use the device. The open end of the sleeve is turned back upon itself as shown at 16 to form a seam as at 17 which passes around a loop of cotton rope or elastic cord 18 so that this end will normally remain in an opened condition.

To operate the device, it is intended that the open end of the sleeve shall be held at arms length to the wind or at right angles to the position in which the operator is standing. Thereafter a quick scooping action is given the device until such t1me as the sleeve -has become fully inflated. When the device is fully inflated, the open end is clamped shut manually and folded upon itself as illustrated in Fig. 3, after which the sleeve is rolled in such a way that the air is forced toward the valved end. It will thus be seen that in the event of any one or, all of the connections being attached to a body to be in fiated and the valve clamps removed, continued rolling on the sleeve will efli'ect a rapid discharge of the entrapped air out of the sleeve and into the body to be inflated. This operation can be repeated as often as necessary until such time as the body is fullyinflated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect it is to be understood that variations. and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A refillable pliable container having one end normally open to receive a fluid and a valve at the otherend of said container to permit deflation of said container when in an inflated condition. I

- 2. A refillablecontainer of fabric material having one end normally entirely open to receive a fluid and a valve at the closed end of said container to permit manual deflation of said container when in an inflated condition.

3. An inflation device of the character described comprising a container of pliable fabric material entirely open at its one end and having a valve at its other end, the open end ofsaid container being adapted to be manually closed and compressed whereby to effect a discharge of the contents thereof upon the opening of said valved end.

4. A device of the character described comprising an inflatable and refillable container of pliable material normallyentirely open at its. one end to permit of the inflation of said container and closed at its other end,

other end,a valve normally closing said exit opening, said container having a rearwardly extending collapsible portion adapted to be normally compressed toward said exit opening whereby to effect a discharge of the contents thereof through said opening.

6. An air pump comprising a tubular, refillable container of collapsible fabric material normally clos ed' at its one end and having a valve attached thereto, said container being open at its other end to permit said container to be readily inflated, said open end of the container being manually closed to expel the air through said valve.

7. Ali airpump comprising a tubular container of collapsible fabric material normally closed at its one end and having a valve attached thereto, said container being open at its other end to permit said container to be readily, manually inflated, said open end of the container being adapted to be manually closed and folded upon itself to expel the air through said valve. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

WILLIAM E. HUFFiiaAN.

and a valve mounted at the closed end of said container, said open end being adapted to be manually closed after the'inflation of said container whereby to permit of thecon tents of said container being discharged hrough said valve.

5. A device of the character described comprising an inflatable, collapsible container of fabric material normally entirely open at its one end to'permit of the inflation of said container and having an exit opening in its 

